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Musket balls fired during ‘shot heard round the world’ battle found in Concord

“It’s incredible that we can stand here and hold what amounts to just a few seconds of history that changed the world almost 250 years ago.”

National Park Service

July 9, 2024

1 minute to read

Five musket balls fired during the event known as “The Shot Heard Round the World” on April 19, 1775 were recently discovered by archeologists working at the Minute Man National Historic Park in Concord.

According to the National Park Service, the musket balls were found by archeologists during preparations for the park’s Great American Outdoors Act rehabilitation project.

Analysis of the musket balls indicates that they were fired by colonial militia members at British forces during the battle at the North Bridge in Concord, a pivotal moment when militia leaders ordered members to shoot at government soldiers for the first time, the park service said. They were found in an area where records indicate British soldiers formed to prevent anyone from crossing the river, and further analysis revealed they were fired from the opposite side of the river.

“It’s incredible that we can stand here and hold what amounts to just a few seconds of history that changed the world almost 250 years ago,” Jarrad Fuoss, Minute Man Park ranger and historic weapons specialist, said in a statement. “These musket balls can be considered collectively as ‘The Shot Heard Round the World,’ and it is incredible that they have survived this long. It is also a poignant reminder that we are all stewards of this battlefield and are here to preserve and protect our shared history.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson called the event “The Shot Heard Round the World” in his 1837 Hymn, marking the significance of the moment that immediately escalated the conflict between colonial rebels and the British, according to the park service.

The musket balls will be on display at the Concord national park on Saturday during events focused on archeology at the historic site.